Apparatus for annealing glassware



Jan. 8, 1929.

V. MULHOLLAND APPARATUS FOR ANNE LiNe YGLASSWARE Filed Oct. 29, 1926 In 0811 for Attorney.

w wvmz/wzzwa Cal Patented J an. 8, 1929,

UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VERGIL MULHOLLAND, WEST HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGN T0 HARTFORD- EMPIBE COMPANY, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE,

APPARATUS FOR ANNE-AIIING GLASSWARE.

Application filed October 29, 1926. Serial No. 144,929.

This invention relates to apparatus for annealing glassware and it has particular relation to lehrs of the type having a tunnel through which articles of glassware are transported and subjected, while in the tunnel, to varying temperature environments.

One of the objects of the present invention is to obtain uniform temperature both vertically and transversely in any section or zone of the tunnel by providing the tunnel with a. bright non-corrosive lining which may be quickly and easily secured to the walls of the tunnel, and which is adapted to reflect the heat radiated both from the ware and from the heated walls of the tunnel, thus tending to prevent a Stratification of air of different temperatures in the tunnel WhlCh may seriously interfere with the proper an nealing of the ware passing therethrough.

Other objects of the invention Wlll appear from the following description and the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a view, partly in side elevation and partly in vertical longitudinal section, of the hot or ware-receiving end of a lehr constructed according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse sectional vlew taken on line. 2-2 ofFig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the tunnel with a section of the top removed to illustrate the interior and Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view through a portion of the wall ofthe tunnel illustrating the means for securing the sheet metal lining in position.

Referring to the drawings, a portion of a tunnel lehr, constructed in accordance with the disclosure of Letters Patent to Vergil Mulholland, No. 1,560,481, is illustrated as comprising, in general, a tunnel 1 constructed of a plurality of cast metal sections 2 rigldly secured together in end-to-end relation and supported by a suitable framework 3. Each of the sections 2 comprises a floor 4, having ducts 5 formed therein, side walls 6 carried thereby, and a top 7 carried by theside walls and having a plurality of corrugations 8' formed therein. The ducts 5, when the sections are in position, communicate with each other and together provide a plurality of heating flues 9 extending longitudinally beneath the floor of the tunnel.

The tunnel is heated by a fire box 10 which is located beneath the ware-receiving end of the tunnel and which communicates with the flues 9 through a passageway 11. Dissipation of heat from the tunnel is minimized by a casing of heat-insulating material 12, such as powdered kieselguhr or the like. The ware is transported through the tunnel by an endless conveyor 13, the ware-bearing strand of which is supported throughout its length and breadth by the fiat metallic floor of the tunnel and the idle strand of/which returns to, the entrance end of the tunnel beneath the lehr.

According to the present invention, sheets or plates 14.- of non-corrosive metal having brightly polished heat-reflecting surfaces are secured to the side walls 6 of each of the sections 2. Plates 15 having similar characteristics are secured to the tops 7 of the sections and are shaped to conform to the corrugations 8 formed therein.

The plates 14 and 15 are secured to the walls 6 and to the tops 7 by any suitable fastening means, preferably consisting of pins 16 having a drive fit'with holes 17 which are drilled in the metallic walls and tops of the sections and are spaced from each other to provide for expansion under the influence of heat.

The reflection of heat transversely of the tunnel, whether to the glass articles or from wall to wall, is materially increased by the provision of the reflecting plates 14 and 15.

The liningplates may be made of various suitable materials, preferably a material capable of maintaining a bright reflecting surface at the comparatively high temperature to which it is subjected. For this purpose the linings of the hotter portions of the tunnel may be made of sheet nickel or of nickelplated sheets, which will withstand the working temperature without corroding, thus maintaining the necessary luster. 7 By means of the above described construction a uniform thermal environment for the ware is insured, thus eliminating a stratified condition of air in the tunnel heretofore encountered in certain lehr constructions.

The invention may be modified in construction and arrangement without de arting from the scope of the invention, as de flned in the appended claims.

What I claim is 2- 1. Apparatus for annealing glassware comprising a tunnel having a non-planiform wall and a metallic sheet having a bright heat reflecting surface secured to said wall and conforming to the configuration thereof and adapted to reflect heat transversely of said tunnel.

2. Apparatus for annealing glassware comprising a tunnel constructed of a plurality of sections arranged in end-to-end relation and metallic sheets having bright heat reflecting surfaces secured to the walls of each of said sections, the edges of said sheets being in s aced relation to the edges of the adjacent 10 s eets to provide for expansion caused by heat.

3. Apparatus for annealing glassware comprising a tunnel having metallic Walls and metallic sheets having bright heat reflecting surfaces secured to the walls of said tunnel by securing means having a driving fit with apertures provided in the Walls of said tunnel to permit of easy assembly.

Signed at Hartford, Conn, this 27th day of October 1926.

' VERGIL MULHOLLAND. 

